Read the article about Belize and outline the main points.
Belize, which lies on the east coast of Central America, is a former British colony and has a population of approximately 2million.
The climate of Belize is sub-tropical and the country has an average temperature of 20°C. Running the length of the coastline of Belize is a barrier reef which is second only in size to the Australian Great Barrier Reef.
In a similar way to tropical rain forests, coral reefs are among the most complex and delicate of all ecosystems. As well as protecting the coastline from hurricane damage, Belize's barrier reef has always been an essential source of food and income for local fishermen.
Like the governments of other developing countries, the Belizean government has actively encouraged the development of tourism as a way of earning foreign exchange.
Last year, over 200,000 tourists visited the country. But the growth of tourism is now threatening the delicate marine life of the coral reef.
In order to make room for hotels to be built and to provide beaches, the swamps of tropical mangrove trees have had to be cleared.
As a result, shore erosion has occurred and vital areas, which are home to rare reef plains, have been destroyed.
The coral reef itself is also under threat from pollution, from die physical damage caused by the anchors of cruise ships and boats chartered by tourist divers, and from the activities of some of the divers, themselves.
Additionally, over-fishing has seriously reduced the populations of fish and shellfish such as conch, grouper, and lobster.
The anticipated rise in sea level as a result of global warming is also expected to damage the coral and fish reserves.
The government of Belize has responded to these problems by setting up a Coastal Zone Management Plan, with the aim of carrying out regular surveys to monitor the effects of tourism and fishing on reef life.
But because Belize has a foreign debt of about $100 million, it has had to rely on support from environmental groups to continue with this important work.
One particular environmental group is Coral Cay Conservation, a voluntary team of divers and marine biologists, which is currently working on a project to establish a marine reserve at the southern end of the barrier reef.
The government has also agreed to provide funds to establish a new-Conservation Division, which will establish and manage a number of new conservation areas in Belize.
III. Read and translate the sentences containing the following words:
to boost a country's economy
fragile
in recession
disastrous
to rely (heavily) on
to cause widespread environmental damage
to be an essential source of
to encourage the development of tourism
a way of earning foreign exchange
to threaten the delicate marine life
to occur
over-fishing
to reduce the populations of fish
to respond by doing smth.
to carry out smth.
to monitor smth. on smth.
to establish a marine reserve
to provide funds
IV. Answer the questions:
Why is the international tourism industry defined as fragile?
What two things can be economically disastrous for countries relying heavily on income from tourism?
What ecosystem is there in Belize’s barrier reef? How is it important for local inhabitants?
What policy has the government of Belize taken?
What has it resulted in?
What steps have environmental groups and the government taken in response?
What do you think about the problem touched upon in the article?
V. Write what facilities for tourists you would expect to find in Belize or any other developing country. What facilities might they need to develop?
VI. Write the dialogue between an environmentalist and a government clerk discussing the problem of Belize's barrier reef.
DISPLAYING STATISTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT TRAVEL AND TOURISM
These three graphs and charts give different statistical information related to tourism and travel. Which one is (a) a pie chart, (b) a block graph, and (c) a line graph?
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Average daily maximum temperature
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Average daily hours of sunshine
Decide what is shown in each graph or chart. Why is the information presented in these different ways? What other ways of displaying statistical information can you think of?
III. Now answer the questions:
What was the total international expenditure on tourism in 1985?
Which decade saw the biggest increase in international arrivals?
What is the most popular form of transport used by tourists in Britain?
Which is the hottest month in Cyprus?
In which month is there the greatest difference between the temperature in Cyprus and the temperature in London?
IV. What do you think?
Why did the 1970s see so many international arrivals?
Why does air transport only account for 1% of tourist transport in Britain?
Do you think the chart showing tourist transport would be very different for your country?
V. Read the report about the number of visitors at Rollercoaster World, a major tourist attraction, over the year. Look at the line graph after the report and draw the block graph using the same information
There were 20.000 visitors in January, although most of these came just after New Year and before the new school term. In February, there was a sharp fall to 5.000 but this rose by 2.000 in March as the weather improved. In April numbers rose by 5.000 and there was a gradual increase in May and June, when numbers went up by 3.000 each month and then leveled off in June. The most popular month was August, when numbers more than doubled to 40.000 because of the school holidays and the summer tourist season, and there was a sharp fall of 10.000 in September, Numbers fell gradually during October and November by 5.000 a month, and then leveled off at 20.000 in December.
Translate word combinations into Russian and retell the article looking at the graph and using these word combinations:
there was a sharp fall to
this rose by 2.000
there was a gradual increase
numbers went up by 3.000
numbers leveled off
numbers doubled to 40.000
numbers toll gradually
VII. Make a pie chart showing the reasons why people might visit London or Moscow in one year. (They might come on holiday, business, to visit friends or relatives or for some other reasons). In your pie chart indicate imaginary percentage.
VIII. Read the article, translate it and complete the following sentences.
1.The number of visitors to Britain last year ……
2.The proportion of repeat visitors ……
3.The number of Japanese visitors …..
4.Last year’s percentage increase in the number of North American visitors…….
5.The percentage growth in visitors from the Far East……
6.The number of North American visitors…..
WHEN THE HEAT IS ON
It’s the season of heat and dust, when the British are at the seaside or abroad
leaving their cultural heritage to tourists. The ancient monuments, palaces, and historic streets resemble a new Babylon, ringing with European, Asian and American dialects.
Last year ,Britain attracted nearly 21 million visitors. The trend is steadily upward, but the picture is not unequivocally good. Tourism is the world’s biggest growth industry, and Britain is facing ever fiercer competition for tourists’ spending money.
“We have been a popular place to come to for many years,” said Isobel Coy, Of the British Tourist Authority.” Now practically every country in the world is after the tourist dollar, whether it has a small coral reef or Florence. There is a serious competition out there.
Britain is to concentrate on doing well and there is a lot of room for improvement. Two thirds of our visitors are repeat visitors, which is good ,but we must make sure we’re offering people what they want –high standards, value for money, and a warm welcome so continue to come.”
They come for different things. The Americans and the Antipodians are interested in our common roots and architecture that is centuries older than theirs.
The Russians apparently like Blackpool, the Dutch and Germans have discovered the beaches of East Anglia, the Japanese are heading for Wales, the Scandinavians for the shops in the North –East, and the Italians to the Scottish Highlands.
The North Americans come in great numbers-3.5 million last year, an increase of 4 per cent on the previous year. The biggest increase of 30 per cent is in visitors from Eastern Europe.
But the big growth market for tourism, and the one all the competing resorts and destinations are aiming at the Far East, showing a growth of 15 per cent a year. The Japanese have been coming and continue to come to Britain in considerable numbers-599,000 last year but it is such nationalities as the
Koreans ,the Tiwanese, the Malaysians and the Thais who hold the future in their wallets.
IX. Make a pie chart showing the number of visitors to Britain last year and use it when retelling this article. |
